India on Thursday condemned the attack that sank an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman, calling it “unacceptable,” and urged that commercial vessels and civilian sailors be spared in the context of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
New Delhi said the attack occurred early Wednesday morning as a wooden dhow sailed from Somalia to the UAE, causing a fire on board before it sank. It added that the Omani coast guard rescued the 14 crew members and transported them to the port of Dibba.
India did not specify the nature of the attack or who was responsible. However, the British maritime risk management group Vanguard said the ship sank due to what is believed to have been an explosion caused by a drone or missile, noting that it was carrying a cargo of livestock, according to Reuters.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement: “The attack on an Indian-flagged vessel off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable, and we condemn the continued targeting of commercial vessels and civilian sailors.”
She added that India emphasizes the need to avoid targeting commercial vessels and endangering their civilian crews, or obstructing freedom of navigation and trade in any way.
Data from the ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic showed that the vessel's last reported location was off the coast of Muscat on May 11. Its operators could not be reached for comment.
At least two other Indian-flagged vessels have been attacked since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28. New Delhi summoned the Iranian ambassador last month and expressed its “grave concern” over these incidents.
The war has increased the risks to commercial shipping in the Gulf, especially around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor, where several ships have been attacked or damaged since the conflict began.
The Indian statement came in conjunction with a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi, with the participation of the Iranian foreign minister, amid the repercussions of the war, and to test the group’s ability to reach a unified position and issue a joint statement.
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